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Whittier council extends suspension of Parkway Tree Manual over vocal public opposition
Summary
After hours of public comment and council questions about liability and CEQA, the Whittier City Council on March 24 approved ordinance 31‑76 to extend the temporary suspension of the Parkway Tree Manual through Jan. 1, 2028, in a 4‑1 vote. Critics said the suspension removes residents’ legal protections and risks further litigation.
The Whittier City Council voted to extend the temporary suspension of the city’s Parkway Tree Manual on second reading, adopting ordinance 31‑76 and finding the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act through Jan. 1, 2028.
The decision came after multiple public commenters urged the council to reject the ordinance, saying the suspension would eliminate the primary legal avenue residents have to question tree removals. “No action that you take that strips the environmental protection of anything is exempt from CEQA,” said Helen Raider, executive director of the Conservancy, urging the council to decline the second reading. Mary Gorman Sullins, president of the Whittier Conservancy, called the manual part of the Whittier Municipal Code and said suspending it “increases the risk” and has already led to unnecessary removals and litigation.
Connie McCormick, founder of saveourtreeswhittier.com, told the council that the manual does not prevent immediate removal of hazardous trees and accused the council majority of mischaracterizing the manual as the cause of rising insurance costs. “Tonight, you are poised to permanently suspend Whittier’s tree manual, which will eliminate the only legal protection residents have for our publicly owned trees,” she said.
City staff and legal counsel defended the staff recommendation and the CEQA determination. City Manager McNamara told the council staff believed roughly 22 trees had been removed since the manual’s suspension in late October, including two or three emergency removals after storms and one removal after construction damage at a development site. City Attorney Keith said the ordinance contains statutory exemptions authorized under CEQA and that staff were following the exemption to allow preparation of a new environmental impact review and an Urban Forest Management Plan.
Councilmember Pacheco said she intended to vote no and questioned whether the suspension would remain effective until a replacement document was adopted; staff replied the suspension’s stated end date is Jan. 1, 2028, unless a new document is adopted earlier. After discussion, the council adopted the ordinance on a roll call vote: Warner Aye, Pacheco No, Dutra Aye, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Aye, Mayor Vinatieri Aye.
Supporters of the suspension said the council was balancing public‑safety, liability and fiduciary responsibilities while pursuing a new urban‑forest management approach and an EIR. Opponents warned that removing the manual without required CEQA review would harm residents’ ability to appeal tree removals and might invite further litigation.
The council’s action was procedural: the ordinance extended the temporary suspension and authorized staff to proceed with the environmental review and planning work necessary to adopt a replacement policy. The council did not adopt a replacement document on March 24.
